Jokic’s 34-point near-triple double lifts Nuggets past Rockets 112-109 in NBA Cup thriller

With 2.7 seconds left and the game on the line, Nikola Jokic stepped to the free-throw line, the crowd holding its breath. He sank both. The Denver Nuggets led by three. Behind him, Toyota Center in Houston erupted—not in celebration, but in disbelief. On Friday, November 21, 2025, the Nuggets outlasted the Rockets 112-109 in a wild, back-and-forth NBA Cup Toyota Center matchup that had everything: clutch shooting, defensive grit, and a performance from Jokic that bordered on the supernatural.

A Center Who Does It All

Jokic finished with 34 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists—just one shy of a triple-double—on 11-of-20 shooting, including four three-pointers. But what made it unforgettable wasn’t just the stat line. It was how he did it. After the Nuggets trailed by 12 at halftime, Jokic took over in the third quarter, scoring 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting. He posterized Alperen Sengun with a thunderous dunk, then calmly pulled up from the elbow for a jumper over two defenders. He wasn’t just scoring—he was orchestrating. His passes found open shooters, his screens freed up Jamal Murray, and his presence altered Houston’s entire defensive scheme.

The Rockets’ Fight Back

Don’t mistake this for a one-man show. The Rockets, led by rookie sensation Reed Sheppard, refused to fold. The 6-foot-3 guard from Louisville, Kentucky, dropped a career-high 27 points off the bench, hitting five three-pointers—20 of those came in the first half alone. Amen Thompson added 22 points and seven rebounds, while Jabari Smith Jr. nearly matched Jokic’s double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Smith’s corner three with 5.5 seconds left cut the lead to one, setting up the final drama. Even Kevin Durant, who joined Houston this season, contributed 13 points despite shooting just 5-of-14. This wasn’t a fluke loss—it was a team battle.

Denver’s Bench and Clutch Execution

The Nuggets’ depth made the difference. Jamal Murray was Jokic’s perfect foil—26 points, 10 assists, and ice in his veins. Down 92-87 with nine minutes left, Murray led a 20-9 run that turned the tide. He hit a 12-footer with 2:30 to go, then a driving layup with 46 seconds left to push the lead to four. Off the bench, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown combined for 22 points, keeping the offense flowing when Jokic sat. Denver shot 53% from the field. Houston? 44%. That gap, small as it seems, was the difference between victory and heartbreak.

What This Means for the NBA Cup

The win improved the Nuggets’ NBA Cup record to 2-1. They still have one game left—against the San Antonio Spurs on November 28 at Ball Arena in Denver. A win there likely seals their spot in the knockout round. For Houston, the loss snapped a five-game winning streak and dropped them to 1-2. Their final game, against the Golden State Warriors on November 26 at Chase Center in San Francisco, now feels like a must-win just to stay alive. The Rockets showed they can compete with elite teams—but they’re still learning how to close.

Why This Game Matters Beyond the Box Score

This wasn’t just another regular-season game. The NBA Cup has injected fresh stakes into November basketball, and this matchup proved why. Jokic, the three-time MVP from Sombor, Serbia, continues to redefine what a center can do. Meanwhile, Houston’s young core—Sheppard, Thompson, Smith—isn’t just developing; they’re performing under pressure. And let’s not forget the emotional weight: the Nuggets were coming off a loss to the Suns, while the Rockets were riding high. This game reset both teams’ trajectories.

Turns out, Jokic doesn’t need 40 points to win big games. Sometimes, he just needs to be himself—patient, precise, and utterly unstoppable when it matters most.